Okay, this chapter is basically a response to the reviewers who asked me to branch out into other points of view and to improve upon the relationships. So...here goes!

The Princess and the Pauperess

Chapter 7

Something else

Inuyasha's form slouched on his branch of choice with his thoughts. He had never known why he liked climbing trees so damn much, but he did, always had, and probably always would. He picked at a loose piece of bark next to his head absentmindedly as he tried to forget. But how could he, when his body would not allow him to? It told him that it was right, that he could get what he wanted, but what did he want? He did not know--couldn't possibly, through all the fray and confusion in his mind about the events of earlier that night. Had he wanted to do...that? And why had he done such a thing to that imposturous wench? One minute they were fighting, the next...what? What did this girl hold over him that could make him this way? She looked like Kikyou. So much like her. And when she'd said "bite me" in that low, challenging voice, she'd sounded like her as well. Damn, did he want her to be his Kikyou. He wanted to argue with her like he could with Kagome, he wanted to laugh at her--he wanted her to laugh at him. Most of all, he wanted to hold her. Just hold her and never stop. He wanted Kikyou to be accessible, like Kagome. Yes. Like Kagome. The sun was rising, soon his duties would start. And he hadn't gotten any sleep. Damn. It was all Kagome's fault, and she would pay.

Yes, revenge would be his.

. . . . .

Kouga was utterly shocked with himself. He would have thought that he'd have been counting the minutes--the seconds--until Kagome's nearly inevitable return. But he wasn't. Instead he was counting the seconds until Kikyou's next visit, waiting on baited breath for her stories, for her smile, for that feeling she so graciously left him with until next time. Yes, that flawless beauty that was Kikyou; that inner something that belied her inner fragility and need had drawn him in. Slowly, she'd caught him in her net, and it was up to her to let him free. He still loved Kagome, of course. That was not all for naught, but it was a separate kind of love. Like that between comrades--siblings.

"Kouga?" a voice asked, sounding fuzzy to his still partially tuned-out mind. "Kouga, are you alright?" The voice was clearer now, and most certainly belonged to Kikyou. He turned to her, smirking.

"Yeah. Sorry," he apologized simply, not bothering to explain. He didn't miss the way her countenance changed when his attention was turned on her. She took a most attractively uncomfortable posture, and refrained from biting her lip as her cheeks pinkened slightly. He grinned a little more. "So, princess, got any good stories for me today?" he asked.

"That's have," she stated, settling in fully by his side. Where she belong--well, he wouldn't quite go that far.

"Have," he muttered. She corrected his grammar on occasion, which had started out highly agitating, but had become most rewarding. Lord knew he needed grammar lessons.

"I have something to ask you," she started slowly, and he knew: there would be no story today.

"Okay..." he prodded gently. She nibbled her fingernail, something Kagome did also, and pieced her thoughts together. Something was obviously bothering her.

"Well, what do you think of...prostitutes?" she asked. He blanched.

"You haven't become one or anything...?" he half joked. She half laughed.

"No, no. I was just wondering. As people, what do you think of them?" He thought on this. It was pretty hard to just lump them all into the same category like that.

"I've known a few in my life, and for the most part, they were pretty bitchy," he replied honestly, "but some of them are really good deep down." Kikyou nodded, for some reason seeming to take great heed of his word. He puzzled over this, but chose not to question her.

"I met a prostitute the other day, and she is a very kind, smart girl, but she is terribly mean to any boy who shows interest..."

"Understandable."

"Well, there's a boy that likes her, and, in fact, I think he's in love with her, but..."

"She won't hear it, right? She always pushes him away, no matter what he does?"

"Yes."

"Sango and Miroku?"

"Yes." She hung her head as if the very thought of telling him shamed her, as if she were committing some great wrong against humanity.

"What do you wanna do about it?" He asked her, his way of saying that her confidence was safe in him, and he would help her if he could. Her gaze snapped to his immediately.

"Well..."

. . . . .

Miroku stepped through the rickety wooden door and immediately his legs were showered in hugs from his three children. Two boys and a girl. His wife stepped into the room holding their fourth child still within her growing womb. She smiled brightly and he made his laborious way to kiss her, the children clinging to his legs in merriment. Their lips met, but he didn't feel it. She was telling him something. Something...

"Miroku! Miroku you lazy ass, get up!"

He sat up straight like a shot, his eyes flung wide, in full view of Kouga's and Kago--Kikyou's forms looming above him. He rubbed his eyes, and Kouga spoke.

"That must've been some dream, man, you wouldn't wake up," he informed him. Kikyou nodded. Miroku still wasn't quite sure what he thought of the princess. She was very inquisitive, in an innocent sort of way, but she spent much of her time listening, and not very much talking. Around him, anyway. He shot Kouga a meaningful look that was, as expected, totally lost on him. He wasn't a mind-reader, after all.

"We have to tell you something," Kikyou said solemnly, her voice causing him to start. Kouga nodded and sat next to Miroku, ushering Kikyou to sit also.

"We know you love Sango." Miroku shot Kouga a look, but he ignored it. "We also know why she refuses you." That got his attention. Kikyou sighed and fidgeted. Kouga turned to her, and she looked back at him. They exchanged words with their eyes, and the princess seemed more at ease.

"You see...she's a prostitute." Miroku flinched. What? His innocent, lovely, man-hating Sango a prostitute? Was that possible? He clenched his fists. He would kill whoever was responsible for that. She probably felt so dirty...

"Where...where is she?" His voice clenched with his words, and he didn't know why.

"Who?" the two asked in unison.

"The mother of Sango's house. I want to rip her apart with my fucking bare hands." Kouga and Kikyou exchanged shocked looks. Apparently they hadn't been expecting that reaction. Before they could stop him, he was on his feet and running. He would find that woman, and she would have more than a piece of his mind.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Okay! Wow! Lots of PoV changes in this chapter! ^-^; I'm really glad I did it, though. Hope it wasn't too confusing. And no, it wasn't all meant to be serious, so if you laughed, don't feel guilty, it was appropriate. I am so proud of myself; I managed to keep this chapter tied in with the rest of everything, and the plot actually moved forward despite the PoV interlude! Yess! So, I hope this chapter cleared some stuff up. For example, why Inuyasha did what he did, what Miroku thinks of Kikyou, etc. And eight days have passed since the two girls switched. I'm sure I made some reference to the amount of time somewhere, but I was beginning to wonder, so I thought I'd write it down before I forgot. ^_^ Anyway, dedications!

Keolla: Hey! I'm glad you like the story, and I'm very glad that Naraku's poem cracked you up! You're right, Inuyasha is an evil bastard, and I'm afraid he doesn't get better very fast in this story. Also, I took your comment about the character development being distant to heart (because it is distant), and I'm trying to fix that. Please tell me if I'm succeeding (characters are my main weakness!). Thank you for your review!

hehe: Yeah, I know! I've always liked Kikyou's character. I think she's very admirable. I'm glad you like my portrayal of her in this fic! I had a lot of trouble writing Naraku's poem, because when I thought of it, I had this really funny mental picture of him sitting there, all diabolical, writing this dumbassish little love poem, going 'kukuku' at the 'oobies' line. Anyway. I'm really glad you like this fic so much! ^_^ Thank you for your review!

darkqueen6: I'm glad you like it, and sorry the update wasn't exactly soon, but I tried!

Rogue Pryde: I can't wait till they start 'getting along' too! Thanks for your review!

Hapagirl21: Glad ya like it! ^_^ Thanks for your review!

Squishy: Yes, Kikyou and Kouga's relationship was going stagnant. I'm glad you mentioned it. I went back and reread my story, and other than the glaringly obvious typos/spelling errors/grammar mistakes, I was cringing at how flat their relationship with and how fast it did so. Thank you immensely for you honest review!

LadyJynjr (times 6!): Ohmygod! You reviewed every single chapter! *glomps* I love you!!!! ^____^ And don't worry, Kohaku will be in this, and Inuyasha will eventually bite Kagome knowing she's Kagome. Er...did I just say too much? Hehe...You caught the "Who's the bitch?" line! Yay! *skips around* Anyway, thank you for your six wonderful reviews! I'm glad you like the story enough to review it sequentially like that! ^_^ I hope this chapter was to your liking as well.

Moonlit Meadow: Wow! Very long review--I love it! I agree that the biting scene was off, but it needed to be in there sooner than would be 'normal' in a developing relationship. I hope I explained some of his not quite logical reasoning in this chapter. So, not quite a flashback, but he definitely wasn't all there. I would love to make Naraku absent-minded. Unfortunately, I can't, for another little subplot won't work if I do that. He will prove very conniving later on! ^-^  So, I used other PoV's in this chapter, and I kinda liked it, so I'll do it a little here and there from now on. The reason this chapter was all from other PoV's was because a) I've been neglecting their insight for a very long time and needed to catch up, and b) there are so many PoV's that spreading it out, believe it or not, would make the story way way longer than the way I did it. So, yeah...Thank you so much for your honest, wonderful, long, great review! ^_^

*does a happy dance* I had so many reviews for this chapter! Yay! Thank you all so much, you have no idea how much this honest feedback helps shape my writing! ^_^ I think I may be getting into the flow of it, so the next chapter could be out sooner rather than later. Hopefully. *crosses fingers*